The Frog: One of the more unique items recently crafted is that of a three-dimensional frog engagement ring for a couple living on the west coast. Our customer's soon-to-be fiancee is of Asian descent and wished to wear a frog, significant to her culture. This project was to also include several old mine cut diamonds of various sizes being given to the couple by his mother, further increasing the sentiment as well as the technical challenge! We researched the shape and dimensions of various frogs and began by carving a wax model, taking great care to balance the essence and realism of the frog with comfort and wearability. This model was then shipped to the customer for his approval. He was as excited about the way it was shaping up as we were. The next step was to cast the piece in white gold, pave set the diamonds and grace the frog with emerald eyes. The ring is truly a masterpiece. The happy bride was surprised with this treasure while tango dancing in Argentina. As she says, she got her frog AND her prince!
The Crown: Hollywood has come calling! Lisa Hunter Jewelry is thrilled to be involved in making a movie prop for the upcoming epic film, "Nicholas of Myra," the true story of St. Nicholas. All those involved in the film are Western New York based individuals and businesses. Lisa Hunter was participating in a summer screen writing workshop where she met Gerald Hartke, the writer and director of the movie. Learning of her jewelry expertise, he approached her about crafting a laurel leaf crown to be worn by the King Constantine character, played by Robert Vincent Jones. Based on photos of actual ancient artifacts, this unique project began with a paper, wire and foam model to be used as the pattern. The techniques employed were themselves ancient: chasing and repouse - hand forging techniques using handmade tools, done in a pitch pot which is similar to a bowl of tar. Each leaf was individually pierced out of a sheet of metal, hand textured, forged in the pitch and soldered onto the headpiece. The result is a stunning recreation of a king's crown that can be seen on the big screen in early 2009. Check out the movie's website for updates: www.stnicholasmovie.com
Signature Line: As Lisa Hunter Jewelry has evolved, so has an important Signature Line. When Lisa Hunter took over the business from Cynthia Olson, there was one particular piece that Lisa recognized as having great potential and she developed this into a signature of the company. This is a hand forged bracelet bezel set with a single stone, usually a diamond, thus the “Floating Diamond Bangle Bracelet”. Under Barbara's ownership, she has added a similarly designed necklace to create the popular Signature Line. These elegant and sculptural pieces are offered in yellow gold, white gold or silver and can be set with any stone of your choice including a diamond you would like to remount. Watch for new additions to this line currently under development! (Mouse over image to see enlargement.)
The Cat: Among one of our specialized requests has been that of a portrait of a customer's beloved pet. This customer's cat has been a constant companion for over seventeen years and she was inspired to commemorate this bond with a very special pendant. We began by studying several photographs and combining them to best capture the cat's character, such as the way she wraps her tail when she sits and the fullness of the fur around her face. This was translated into a custom wax which was then cast in gold. The customer was amazed at the realism of the piece created by Lisa Hunter Jewelry – it wasn't just a cat, it was her cat, now worn close to the heart.
A Reward: We find that customers often reward themselves with jewelry (rightfully so!), whether it is a job promotion, the birth of a child or reaching a particular goal. One such goal fulfillment was that of finishing medical school. As a second-generation customer of our shop, the daughter of a couple who have been customers of Lisa Hunter Jewelry for many years was familiar with our handcrafted quality and design abilities. She saw a picture of a diamond band that she fell in love with and filed it away. She went on to medical school and years later, nearing completion, got out the photo again. She decided to commemorate all of her years of hard work by having her dream ring fashioned into reality. Lisa Hunter Jewelry hand fabricated the band using the old photo as inspiration. She now proudly wears the glittering symbol of one of her life's milestones:
Unique Bead Strands: Lisa Hunter Jewelry has developed a niche for provided unique bead offerings, unlike anything you will see elsewhere. Some of the unusual stones have included moonstone, opal, rutilated quartz, and raspberry-hued spinels. 
We work them into varied lengths, often combining them with handmade gold beads and complimentary clasps. These precious gemstone strands are being collected by customers, often so quickly that they are spoken for before they are even completed or make it into our displays. Just let us know if you would like to be one of the individuals who receives a phone call to preview the selections!
